IN41B-1139
Tools for Authoring Keyhole Markup Language
There are many who have remarked that the development of KML for adding content to geo-mapping applications, is the GeoWeb equivalent of HTML. However, unlike HTML there are currently few applications available that offer authoring of KML through a user-friendly framework. There is particular interest for such tools in the scientific community, which works with large geospatially-located datasets. We present a guide to KML tools that have been developed by the open-source community to meet this need.
IN41B-1140
A Pyramid Scheme for Constructing Geologic Maps on Geobrowsers
Hundreds of geologic maps have been draped onto Google Earth (GE) using the ground overlay tag of Keyhole Markup Language (KML) and dozens have been published on academic and survey web pages as downloadable KML or KMZ (zipped KML) files. The vast majority of these are small KML docs that link to single, large - often very large - image files (jpegs, tiffs, etc.) Files that exceed 50 MB in size defeat the purpose of GE as an interactive and responsive, and therefore fast, virtual terrain medium. KML supports super-overlays (a.k.a. image pyramids), which break large graphic files into manageable tiles that load only when they are in the visible region at a sufficient level of detail (LOD), and several automatic tile-generating applications have been written. The process of exporting map data from applications such as ArcGIS® to KML format is becoming more manageable but still poses challenges. Complications arise, for example, because of differences between grid-north at a point on a map and true north at the equivalent location on the virtual globe. In our recent field season, we devised ways of overcoming many of these obstacles in order to generate responsive, panable, zoomable geologic maps in which data is layered in a pyramid structure similar to the image pyramid used for default GE terrain. The structure of our KML code for each level of the pyramid is self-similar: (i) check whether the current tile is in the visible region, (ii) if so, render the current overlay, (iii) add the current data level, and (iv) using four network links, check the visibility and LOD of four nested tiles. By using this pyramid structure we provide the user with access to geologic and map data at multiple levels of observation. For example, when the viewpoint is distant, regional structures and stratigraphy (e.g. lithological groups and terrane boundaries) are visible. As the user zooms to lower elevations, formations and ultimately individual outcrops come into focus. The pyramid structure is ideally suited to geologic data which tends to be unevenly exposed across the earth's surface.
IN41B-1141
Visualizing large geospatial datasets with KML Regions
Regions are a powerful KML feature that helps viewing very large datasets in Google Earth without sacrificing performance. Data is loaded and drawn only when it falls within the user's view and occupies a certain portion of the screen. Using Regions, it is possible to supply separate levels of detail for the data, so that fine details are loaded only when the data fills a portion of the screen that is large enough for the details to be visible. It becomes easy to create compelling interactive presentations of geospatial datasets that are meaningful at both large and small scale. We present two example datasets: worldwide past, present and future carbon dioxide emissions by power plants provided by Carbon Monitoring for Action, Center for Global Development (http://carma.org), as well as 2007 US bridge safety ratings from Federal Highway Administration (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/BRIDGE/nbi/ascii.cfm).
IN41B-1142
Next Generation Landsat Products Delivered Using Virtual Globes and OGC Standard Services
The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) is the next in the series of Landsat satellite missions and is tasked with the objective of delivering data acquired by the Operational Land Imager (OLI). The OLI instrument will provide data continuity to over 30 years of global multispectral data collected by the Landsat series of satellites. The U.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science (USGS EROS) Center has responsibility for the development and operation of the LDCM ground system. One of the mission objectives of the LDCM is to distribute OLI data products electronically over the Internet to the general public on a nondiscriminatory basis and at no cost. To ensure the user community and general public can easily access LDCM data from multiple clients, the User Portal Element (UPE) of the LDCM ground system will use OGC standards and services such as Keyhole Markup Language (KML), Web Map Service (WMS), Web Coverage Service (WCS), and Geographic encoding of Really Simple Syndication (GeoRSS) feeds for both access to and delivery of LDCM products. The USGS has developed and tested the capabilities of several successful UPE prototypes for delivery of Landsat metadata, full resolution browse, and orthorectified (L1T) products from clients such as Google Earth, Google Maps, ESRI ArcGIS Explorer, and Microsoft's Virtual Earth. Prototyping efforts included the following services: using virtual globes to search the historical Landsat archive by dynamic generation of KML; notification of and access to new Landsat acquisitions and L1T downloads from GeoRSS feeds; Google indexing of KML files containing links to full resolution browse and data downloads; WMS delivery of reduced resolution browse, full resolution browse, and cloud mask overlays; and custom data downloads using WCS clients. These various prototypes will be demonstrated and LDCM service implementation plans will be discussed during this session.
IN41B-1143
A Java-based tool for creating KML files from GPS waypoints
Google Earth provides a free tool with powerful capabilities for visualizing geoscience images and data. Commercial software tools exist for doing sophisticated digitizing and spatial modeling , but for the purposes of presentation, visualization and overlaying aerial images with data Google Earth provides much of the functionality. Likewise, with current technologies in GPS (Global Positioning System) systems and with Google Earth Plus, it is possible to upload GPS waypoints, tracks and routes directly into Google Earth for visualization. However, older technology GPS units and even low-cost GPS units found today may lack the necessary communications interface to a computer (e.g. no Bluetooth, no WiFi, no USB, no Serial, etc.) or may have an incompatible interface, such as a Serial port but no USB adapter available. In such cases, any waypoints, tracks and routes saved in the GPS unit or recorded in a field notebook must be manually transferred to a computer for use in a GIS system or other program. This presentation describes a Java-based tool developed by the author which enables users to enter GPS coordinates in a user-friendly manner, then save these coordinates in a Keyhole MarkUp Language (KML) file format, for visualization in Google Earth. This tool either accepts user-interactive input or accepts input from a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file, which can be generated from any spreadsheet program. This tool accepts input in the form of lat/long or UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) coordinates. This presentation describes this system's applicability through several small case studies. This free and lightweight tool simplifies the task of manually inputting GPS data into Google Earth for people working in the field without an automated mechanism for uploading the data; for instance, the user may not have internet connectivity or may not have the proper hardware or software. Since it is a Java application and not a web- based tool, it can be installed on one's field laptop and the GPS data can be manually entered without the need for internet connectivity. This tool provides a table view of the GPS data, but lacks a KML viewer to view the data overlain on top of an aerial view, as this viewer functionality is provided in Google Earth. The tool's primary contribution lies in its more convenient method for entering the GPS data manually when automated technologies are not available.
IN41B-1144
Mapping with the Masses: Google Map Maker
After some 15,000 years of map making, which saw the innovations of cardinal directions, map projections for
a spherical earth, and GIS analysis, many parts of the world still appear as the "Dark Continent" on modern
maps. Google Map Maker intends to shine a light on these areas by tapping into the power of the GeoWeb.
Google Map Maker is a website which allows you to collaborate with others on one unified map to add, edit,
locate, describe, and moderate map features, such as roads, cities, businesses, parks, schools and more, for
certain regions of the world using Google Maps imagery.
In this session, we will show some examples of how people are mapping with this powerful tool as well as what
they are doing with the data. With Google Map Maker, you can become a citizen cartographer and join the
global network of users helping to improve the quality of maps and local information in your region of interest.
You are invited to map the world with us!
http://mapmaker.google.com
IN41B-1145
Visualizing Geographic Data in Google Earth for Education and Outreach
Google Earth is an excellent tool to help students and the public visualize scientific data as with low technical skill scientific content can be shown in three dimensions against a background of remotely sensed imagery. It therefore has a variety of uses in university education and as a tool for public outreach. However, in both situations it is of limited value if it is only used to attract attention with flashy three dimensional animations. In this poster we shall illustrate several applications that represent what we believe is good educational practice. The first example shows how the combination of a floor map and a projection of Google Earth on a screen can be used to produce active learning. Students are asked to imagine where they would build a house on Big Island Hawaii in order to avoid volcanic hazards. In the second example Google Earth is used to illustrate evidence over a range of scales in a description of Lake Agassiz flood events which would be more difficult to comprehend in a traditional paper based format. In the final example a simple text manipulation application "TMapper" is used to change the color palette of a thematic map generated by the students in Google Earth to teach them about the use of color in map design.
IN41B-1146
KML-based teaching lessons developed by Google in partnership with the University of Alaska.
The focus of Google's Geo Education outreach efforts (http://www.google.com/educators/geo.html) is on helping primary, secondary, and post-secondary educators incorporate Google Earth and Sky, Google Maps, and SketchUp into their classroom lessons. In this poster and demonstration, we will show our KML-based science lessons that were developed in partnership with the University of Alaska and used in classroom teachings by our team to Alaskan high-school students.
IN41B-1147 INVITED
The Yosemite Extreme Panoramic Imaging Project: Monitoring Rockfall in Yosemite Valley with High-Resolution, Three-Dimensional Imagery
Yosemite Valley experiences numerous rockfalls each year, with over 600 rockfall events documented since
1850. However, monitoring rockfall activity has proved challenging without high-resolution "basemap"
imagery of the Valley walls. The Yosemite Extreme Panoramic Imaging Project, a partnership between the
National Park Service and xRez Studio, has created an unprecedented image of Yosemite Valley's walls by
utilizing gigapixel panoramic photography, LiDAR-based digital terrain modeling, and three-dimensional
computer rendering. Photographic capture was accomplished by 20 separate teams shooting from key
overlapping locations throughout Yosemite Valley. The shots were taken simultaneously in order to ensure
uniform lighting, with each team taking over 500 overlapping shots from each vantage point. Each team's
shots were then assembled into 20 gigapixel panoramas. In addition, all 20 gigapixel panoramas were
projected onto a 1 meter resolution digital terrain model in three-dimensional rendering software, unifying
Yosemite Valley's walls into a vertical orthographic view. The resulting image reveals the geologic complexity
of Yosemite Valley in high resolution and represents one of the world's largest photographic captures of a
single area. Several rockfalls have already occurred since image capture, and repeat photography of these
areas clearly delineates rockfall source areas and failure dynamics. Thus, the imagery has already proven
to be a valuable tool for monitoring and understanding rockfall in Yosemite Valley. It also sets a new
benchmark for the quality of information a photographic image, enabled with powerful new imaging
technology, can provide for the earth sciences.
http://www.xrez.com/yose_proj/Yose_index.html
IN41B-1148
Gigapan as a Tool for Scientific Collaborations
Gigapan methodology is a tool for the viewing of very large images stitched together from hundreds to thousands of individual images. It allows a scientist to responsively and interactively zoom between large contextual images and the smallest fine scale details. The technology consists of several parts: - an inexpensive commercial pan and tilt unit which will automatically take a mosaic of images in a regular pattern - software for stitching together those images into a single large image data set - a web site for selectively sharing of these Gigapan images - server software which allows real time web access to very large images We are interested in the utility of the Gigapan methodology for remote scientific field investigations. We have explored the utility of this for MER images and in this presentation we'll discuss experiments of its use for biological investigations associated with lavatubes and desert crusts. For image based explorations we will discuss the range of resolutions and total data volumes for a remote science team to distinquish parameters which would be significant in some specific biological field investigation.
IN41B-1149
KML-Based Access and Visualization of High Resolution LiDAR Topography
Over the past decade, there has been dramatic growth in the acquisition of LiDAR (Light Detection And
Ranging) high-resolution topographic data for earth science studies. Capable of providing digital elevation
models (DEMs) more than an order of magnitude higher resolution than those currently available, LiDAR
data allow earth scientists to study the processes that contribute to landscape evolution at resolutions not
previously possible yet essential for their appropriate representation. These datasets also have significant
implications for earth science education and outreach because they provide an accurate representation of
landforms and geologic hazards. Unfortunately, the massive volume of data produced by LiDAR mapping
technology can be a barrier to their use. To make these data available to a larger user community, we have
been exploring the use of Keyhole Markup Language (KML) and Google Earth to provide access to LiDAR
data products and visualizations.
LiDAR digital elevation models are typically delivered in a tiled format that lends itself well to a KML-based
distribution system. For LiDAR datasets hosted in the GEON OpenTopography Portal
(www.opentopography.org) we have developed KML files that show the extent of available LiDAR DEMs and
provide direct access to the data products. Users interact with these KML files to explore the extent of the
available data and are able to select DEMs that correspond to their area of interest. Selection of a tile loads
a download that the user can then save locally for analysis in their software of choice.
The GEON topography system also has tools available that allow users to generate custom DEMs from
LiDAR point cloud data. This system is powerful because it enables users to access massive volumes of raw
LiDAR data and to produce DEM products that are optimized to their science applications. We have
developed a web service that converts the custom DEM models produced by the system to a hillshade that is
delivered to the user as a KML groundoverlay. The KML product enables users to quickly and easily
visualize the DEMs in Google Earth. By combining internet-based LiDAR data processing with KML
visualization products, users are able to execute computationally intensive data sub-setting, processing and
visualization without having local access to computing resources, GIS software, or data processing expertise.
Finally, GEON has partnered with the US Geological Survey to generate region-dependant network linked
KML visualizations for large volumes of LiDAR derived hillshades of the Northern San Andreas fault system.
These data, acquired by the NSF-funded GeoEarthScope project, offer an unprecedented look at active
faults in the northern portion of the San Andreas system. Through the region-dependant network linked
KML, users can seamlessly access 1 meter hillshades (both 315 and 45 degree sun angles) for the full 1400
square kilometer dataset, without downloading huge volumes of data. This type of data access has great
utility for users ranging from earthquake scientists to K-12 educators who wish to introduce cutting edge real
world data into their earth science lessons.
http://www.geongrid.org
IN41B-1150
An Interactive, 3D Fault Editor for VR Environments
Digitial Fault Models (DFM) play a vital role in the study of earthquake dynamics, fault-earthquake interactions, and seismicity. DFMs serve as input for finite-element method (FEM) or other earthquake simulations such as Virtual California. Generally, digital fault models are generated by importing a digitized and georeferenced (2D) fault map and/or a hillshade image of the study area into a geographical information system (GIS) application, where individual fault lines are traced by the user. Data assimilation and creation of a DFM, or updating an existing DFM based on new observations, is a tedious and time-consuming process. In order to facilitate the creation process, we are developing an immersive virtual reality (VR) application to visualize and edit fault models. This program is designed to run in immersive environments such as a CAVE (walk-in VR environment), but also works in a wide range of other environments, including desktop systems and GeoWalls. It is being developed at the UC Davis W.M. Keck Center for Active Visualization in the Earth Sciences (KeckCAVES, http://www.keckcaves.org). Our program allows users to create new models or modify existing ones; for instance by repositioning individual fault-segments, by changing the dip angle, or by modifying (or assigning) the value of a property associated with a particular fault segment (i.e. slip rate). With the addition of high resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEM) , georeferenced active tectonic fault maps and earthquake hypocenters, the user can accurately add new segments to an existing model or create a fault model entirely from scratch. Interactively created or modified models can be written to XML files at any time; from there the data may easily be converted into various formats required by the analysis software or simulation. We believe that the ease of interaction provided by VR technology is ideally suited to the problem of creating and editing digital fault models. Our software provides the user with an intuitive environment for visualizing and editing fault model data. This translates not only into less time spent creating fault models, but also enables the researcher to easily generate and maintain any number of models for use in ensemble analysis.
IN41B-1151
Visualization of Geoscience Data on Google Earth: Development of Data Converter System for Seismic Tomography Models, Geochemical Data of Rocks, and Geomagnetic Field Models
We have developed a visualization system of multidisciplinary geoscience data exploiting Google Earth
technologies. At present, our system succeeds to visualize seismic tomography models, geochemical
datasets of rocks, and geomagnetic field models (Nagao et al. in GP13). As Google Earth supports the XML-
based language, called KML (Keyhole Markup Language), we have developed a set of "KML generator",
which converts the datasets of tomography models, petrologic or isotopic data, and datasets of geomagnetic
field models to a KML file. The software consists of two components; one is the engine part to make a KML
file and another is the User Interface (UI) to set the parameters for the generator. We provide not only
desktop applications but also web ones as the UI of the KML generator in order that the user can easily use
the KML generator through the Internet. The web applications are now available on the web site:
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/pacific21. Each of the KML generators is based on GUI and has a flexible
visualization scheme so that both expert and non-expert users can easily handle various geoscience data in
our system. With the KML files produced from the multi-geoscience data, we can visualize a variety of
research products of geoscience on the same 3D graphics of Google Earth. Therefore our visualization
system would promote cross-disciplinary studies to understand our planet. We plan to develop software to
convert the other type of geophysical and geochemical data formats.
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/pacific21
IN41B-1152
Tomographic Maps and Focal Mechanism Solutions on Google Earth
We present two seismology research projects that had been ported to web technologies and resulted in KML
layers, finding in Google Earth a flexible platform capable of substituting specialized graphical tools in
performing qualitative comparisons on the data-sets.
The KML layer for the European Regional Centroid Moment Tensor Catalog displays the focal mechanism
solutions (beach balls) for moderate-magnitude Earthquake from 1997 to present.
Two methodologies for beach balls generation and management were tested: simple import of externally-
generated gif files and straight KML implementation.
The
IN41B-1153
Implementation of Virtual Globe Technology for the Modeling and Prediction of Mineral Deposits
Modeling and prediction of mineral deposits is one of the most important tasks in geology. Virtual Globe technology is changing traditional approaches to the problem. For this purpose we used Google Earth, and identified two new benefits for finding and predicting the locations of mineral deposits: (1) The continuous remote sensing data and topography for the entire surface of the Earth provides a great advantage over conventional mapping technologies as it allows for qualitative analysis of linear, block and ring structures across a wide range of scales. (2) The existence of known targets on the ground allows for easy georeferencing of data that did not previously contain this information. Other advantages of using virtual globe technology include: ability to sync directly with advanced databases; freedom to easily exchange data between working groups; addition of data can be seen in real-time (map does not need to first be published); views are scalable and can be exported for presentations. Achievements that have resulted from using virtual globes for mineral exploration include: the creation of new software applications (e.g. KML2KML, Superoverlay, KMLer); Databases of the distribution and quantity of mineral resources (e.g. chrome ore, Urals and Arkhangelsk diamonds).
IN41B-1154
Development of a Carbon Sequestration Visualization Tool using Google Earth Pro
The Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership seeks to prepare organizations throughout the western United States for a possible carbon-constrained economy. Through the development of CO2 capture and subsurface sequestration technology, the Partnership is working to enable the region to cleanly utilize its abundant fossil energy resources. The intent of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Big Sky Visualization tool is to allow geochemists, geologists, geophysicists, project managers, and other project members to view, identify, and query the data collected from CO2 injection tests using a single data source platform, a mission to which Google Earth Pro is uniquely and ideally suited . The visualization framework enables fusion of data from disparate sources and allows investigators to fully explore spatial and temporal trends in CO2 fate and transport within a reservoir. 3-D subsurface wells are projected above ground in Google Earth as the KML anchor points for the presentation of various surface subsurface data. This solution is the most integrative and cost-effective possible for the variety of users in the Big Sky community.
IN41B-1155
The North American Carbon Program Google Earth Collection
The central objective of the North American Carbon Program (NACP), a core element of the US Climate
Change Science Program, is to quantify the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and
methane in North America and adjacent ocean regions. The NACP consists of a wide range of investigators
at universities and federal research centers. Although many of these investigators have worked together in
the past, many have had few prior interactions and may not know of similar work within knowledge domains,
much less across the diversity of environments and scientific approaches in the Program.
Coordinating interactions and sharing data are major challenges in conducting NACP. The Google Earth
Collection on the NACP website (www.nacarbon.org) provides a geographical view of the research products
contributed by each core and affiliated NACP project. Other relevant data sources (e.g. AERONET) can also
be browsed in spatial context with NACP contributions. Each contribution links to project-oriented metadata,
or "project profiles", that provide a greater understanding of the scientific and social context of each dataset
and are an important means of communicating within the NACP and to the larger carbon cycle science
community. Project profiles store information such as a project's title, leaders, participants, an abstract,
keywords, funding agencies, associated intensive field campaigns, expected data products, data needs,
publications, and URLs to associated data centers, datasets, and metadata. Data products are research
contributions that include biometric inventories, flux tower estimates, remote sensing land cover products,
tools, services, and model inputs / outputs.
Project leaders have been asked to identify these contributions to the site level whenever possible, either
through simple latitude/longitude pair, or by uploading a KML, KMZ, or shape file. After post-processing,
research contributions are added to the NACP Google Earth Collection to facilitate discovery and use in
synthesis activities of the Program.
http://www.nacarbon.org/cgi-bin/google_maps/google_map_all.pl
IN41B-1156
Google Earth EC for Hydrocarbon Exploration
Within petroleum exploration research, a greater value has been placed on the acquisition and use of high resolution imagery, digital elevation models (DEM) and spatial vector data, which has led to a need for a technological solution that provides easy access to and rapid 3D viewing capabilities of large spatial datasets. However, to stay competitive, it is essential that this solution also have the capability to expand into an interpretation tool rather than exist as purely a visualization tool. The Google Earth Enterprise Solution software has led to the successful creation of a viewable database or globe that contains public and proprietary imagery, terrain and vector data that is relevant and applicable to our local and international interests. Though the database is viewed using the standard Google Earth client, the viewable database is proprietary, secured and only accessible from within our in-house network. This allows for access to company-relevant spatial data within seconds. The impact of the in-house Google Earth Enterprise Solution has led to its evolution from a visualization tool to an integration and application tool. Workflows are being established to automate the integration of proprietary GIS data into the system. Standalone GUI applications have been created to interface with the in-house flyable database for more dynamic interaction with and interpretation of the datasets. In this solution we have devised utilities that promote thinking "outside of the box" rather than just "off the shelf". Some of the applications of our solution include field campaign planning and tracking, onshore seismic planning, visualization of vertical section such as cross-sections or seismic data, visualization of photo- realistic outcrop models, and animations of geological time sequences. The integration of the proprietary high resolution imagery and terrain datasets with in-house specific vector data has become a powerful proven tool within research, exploration and production.
IN41B-1157
Near Real Time Animations of Earth Science Data in Virtual Globes.
Virtual globes are an excellent visualization tool for Earth Sciences data and imagery, giving the user a
tremendous amount of control over how the imagery is viewed. Features like zoom, orientation, and tilt
provide a great deal of flexibility for looking at the imagery in different ways. Time series animation provides a
fourth dimension to the imagery, enabling the visualization of change over time.
Near real time animation of time series imagery allows scientists to monitor events as they unfold and assess
data quality as it comes in. At NSIDC we have put several of our near real time data streams into kml time
series animations, which we update on a daily basis. These visualizations can be powerful tools to help raise
public awareness and make the science behind the data more accessible to the public.
http://nsidc.org/data/virtual_globes
IN41B-1158
Enhancing Public Outreach of Your Scientific Data Through Google Earth and Maps
Many public benefit organizations and researchers are using Google Earth and Maps to put their data in a
three-dimensional spatial context, using tools that are available to the general public. Researchers are also
using Google Earth for in-the-field operations. As a result, they have helped inform the public about their
scientific data and impacted public policy. We'll take you on a tour of some examples, and you can learn
more about what you can do with Google's mapping tools from Google Earth Outreach.
http://earth.google.com/outreach
IN41B-1159
Sensor Webs and Virtual Globes: Enabling Understanding of Changes in a partially Glaciated Watershed
The University of Alaska Southeast is currently implementing a sensor
web identified as the SouthEast Alaska MOnitoring Network for Science,
Telecommunications, Education, and Research (SEAMONSTER). SEAMONSTER
is operating in the partially glaciated Mendenhall and Lemon Creek
Watersheds, in the Juneau area, on the margins of the Juneau Icefield.
These watersheds are studied for both 1. long term monitoring of
changes, and 2. detection and analysis of transient events (such as
glacier lake outburst floods). The heterogeneous sensors
(meteorologic, dual frequency GPS, water quality, lake level, etc),
power and bandwidth constraints, and competing time scales of interest
require autonomous reactivity of the sensor web. They also present
challenges for operational management of the sensor web. The harsh
conditions on the glaciers provide additional operating constraints.
The tight integration of the sensor web and virtual global enabling
technology enhance the project in multiple ways. We are utilizing
virtual globe infrastructures to enhance both sensor web management
and data access. SEAMONSTER utilizes virtual globes for education and
public outreach, sensor web management, data dissemination, and
enabling collaboration. Using a PosgreSQL with GIS extensions database
coupled to the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Geoserver, we generate
near-real-time auto-updating geobrowser files of the data in multiple
OGC standard formats (e.g KML, WCS). Additionally, embedding wiki
pages in this database allows the development of a geospatially aware
wiki describing the projects for better public outreach and education.
In this presentation we will describe how we have implemented these
technologies to date, the lessons learned, and our efforts towards
greater OGC standard implementation. A major focus will be on
demonstrating how geobrowsers and virtual globes have made this
project possible.
http://seamonsterak.com/
IN41B-1160
Web-based Visualization of a Solar Energy Assessment Dataset for the Western Hemisphere
Interest in the large- and small-scale development of weather-driven renewable energy resources has grown
rapidly in the past decade. So far, most of the commercial investments have been made in wind energy
projects, but interest in solar energy is growing rapidly. To make informed decisions about these investments,
there is a need for assessment information, which can be used to simulate project performance as a function
of time and place.
We have developed high-resolution wind and solar data sets based on a combination of in-house meso-scale
numerical weather prediction simulations and satellite data analysis. Both datasets can be browsed in
summary form through a web interface that uses the Google Maps API.
This presentation focuses on the development and visualization of the solar radiation data set, which is
based on an archive of geostationary satellite data, processed in-house to provide high-resolution cloud
estimates and surface irradiance. The web site provides a convenient and effective method to explore the
potential viability of renewable energy development.
http://firstlook.3tiergroup.com